Bertram33 User Forum

All Mr. Chivas knows is to open the door and float to the top. [:D] Bill Dunlop 33 FBC "Rebecca Rose" Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

quote:All Mr. Chivas knows is to open the door and float to the top Sewage does the same thing you know! 1979 Bertram 33' FBC ALEXANDRA Port Richey, Florida HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR BERTRAM PRIDE '06 yet? DO IT NOW... SPACE IS LIMITED!

Here's an email exchange I've been having with Bob Adriance, an AVP in Boat US's Technical Services division. I had initially asked him what, if anything, the Boat US lobyists were planning on doing (his responses in bold): 3/21/06 Douglas, Thanks, it's an excellent question. Our lobbyists have been looking into it. I'll try to get you an answer later this week. Bob Adriance, AVP Technical Services 4/4/06 Bob, Anything yet? I just learned from the Boat US website that Boat US insurance will not be covering any failure to tanks, or hoses caused by ethanol as it would fall under the corrosion category. Please tell me that if Boat US is not going to help us on the insurance side that your lobbyists will push to have ethanol banned from marine use for safety issues as it is currently banned from aviation use. Thank you in advance for your prompt response. Regards, Doug LeBlanc 4/4/06 Hi Doug, Ethanol (and MTBE) have been used to boost octane since lead was outlawed. Airplanes are still using leaded gasoline. It may be possible for boats to get an exemption as well BUT the price of gasoline would then climb to somewhere between $4 to $5 per gallon. Whatever is decided, we will need to be careful of the strategies we use to achieve a net gain for boaters. I'm not aware of any problems with ethanol in the Midwest, where it has been used for over a decade. In the Long Island Sound area, which had been using MTBE and only recently switched to ethanol, there was a period of a year or so when many boaters had problems with clogged filters. That was because ethanol is a solvent that cleans the gunk off tanks. Over time, the tanks gets cleaned and the filters no longer become plugged up. The problem with fiberglass tanks is a much larger one but affects far fewer boats. My guess--and it's only a guess--is that there won't be an exemption for boats because people won't be willing to pay the difference. I suppose it's also possible that a few marinas could still get permission to sell leaded gasoline. There is a another meeting tomorrow on ethanol and I may be able to tell you more. Regards, Bob Adriance Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Boat Useless is becoming very consistant with there answer regarding ethanol and fiberglass tanks. They feel the number of boats with fiberglass tanks are insufficient to the cause, therefore they will not lobby, or pay for damages, or make changes to the ethanol coming into the area. They absolutely believe that the tanks will leak eventually, but it is a risk they are willing to ignore. We are on our own on this one. If I had Boat Useless for insurance, the same day the tank started to leak is the same day I would scuttle the boat for insurance. Bill 33 FBC Ipswich, Ma. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... a_Rose.jpg[/img]

I can see it now. Boat burns and sinks off Coast on a guys fishing trip. Make sure it is in 1000 ft. You have your new EPIRB, offshore life raft and plenty of beer. Gene Dugan

Rick, this was off the hulltruth forum. You may be our first guinea pig in this area. Posted 4/4/2006 8:58 PM (#976746 - in reply to #963369) Subject: Re: Ethanol added to fuel Bad News for Marine engines Offline Posts: 227 Member Since: 7/30/2004 Location: Falmouth, MA I stopped by the local marina today. As of April 1st, they are required to but 10% ethhanol fuel. They are planning on lots of problems. They topped off their 16,000 gallons tanks last week to avoid the "corn" fuel. When they switch, they have been told to replace all 4 filters on their pumps daily! At a cost of $100 each.! They need to do this for at least 30 days. And their tanks are only 5 years old. I better order some new Racors... ----- Capecodguy Take Two Glacier Bay 2680 Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

Geez Al, thanks for making my day ! Eeeegh boy, that's scary, hope it's not all marina's. If you don't hear from me, cancel the rendevouz in Oak Bluffs ! Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA

hi guys, i'm a fellow commisorator with the fuel issues. the government has all sorts of white pages for fuel distributers on procedures regarding emptying and cleaning the tanks before accepting the first load of corn fuel. ethanol and mtbe don't play nicely together, of course no one warns the boaters of this.

Jim, Welcome aboard. What are you running in your Hatt? Do you have a fiberglass tank? Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

doug, thanks. running 427 ford chris crafts and yes i have glass tanks. went thru the ordeal last summer (2005) of bending pushrods and scratching my head as to what was going on.

I just saw this on the 31 site. If this is true, some of us may be OK while others could be screwed: Hello you Bert 31 owners, thank goodness for your rudders, I own a 1977 sister 28 FBC, repowered 04 and I upgraded to the 31's 22 inch rudder, now can steer either direction on 1 engine @ no wake speed. Now the problem, looks like the old Berts and Hatteras owners are screwed on this ethanol problem (nationwide for 06 season). The 28 owners on Bertram28.net (1 got a reply from Bertram on fiberglass mix for fuel tanks, changed in 85 for ethanol Ok and Bertram said yes looks like a fuel tank "change" for older Berts) well looks like the older 28's and all the 31's are in for problems. Any suggestions on how to tackle the problem. I have some emails from a buddy of mine a marine surveyor with a 86 28FBC, (lucky bugger), from the BoatUs guy who is seeing the claims submissions 1st hand on pushrod damage engine failure and fuel tank leakage from eopxy leech with ethanol. Anyone who wants the emails plus other emails forwarded, email me @ wpdesmarais@comcast.net. I do not want to pull the cockpit and change a fuel tank !!! Bill Desmarais If anyone wants to follow up with this guy directly about his conversation with Bertram, here is his email address: wpdesmarais@comcast.net Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

More info from the 31 site: Hi Leigh I got the reply from Bertram about the tanks I am going to send them the S/N number on the tank in 28 FBC the Label reads NOT for Methanol built in 1982 Check your tank for label it maybe still readable mine was near the fuel pick up glassed over. here is a copy of what Bertram sent me -----Original Message----- From: Geney Menendez [mailto:Geney.Menendez@bertram.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 11:38 AM To: Patti & Bob Stevens Subject: RE: Fuel Tanks Bob, This is the info I got, I hope this helps. Geney Geney, the tank specifications were changed in 1985-86 to incorporate the use of ethanol in fuel. We have no other info other than what is available on the internet. Bertram is not producing new tanks as replacements. As far as the question of whether the tanks need to be replaced or not, I have heard that it is true. Don Flippen I will try to post the e mail the Bill D is refering to but it is long but interesting. Capt Bob Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Is this still just a NE problem or is it going to be nation wide? I know earlier you guys said we would not be affected in Florida.

I'm pretty sure its going to be nation wide eventually, but I'm not sure of the time tables. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth Marblehead, MA [img]http://www.bertram33.com/photogallery/p ... sabeth.jpg[/img]

Has anyone found replacement tanks ? Cost ? Al, I know you threw out $10K in a previous post, is that the cheapest you've found ? With a crane or fork lift, it wouldn't be too bad doing the actual replacement. But finding a tank and getting it to the boat is not going to be easy or cheap. Rick Ticket 85 SF Falmouth, MA